Hand washing tool for dishes, mirrors and the like



Jan. 21, 1958 R. M; RIGNEY WASHING TOOL FOR DISHES, MIRRORS AND'THE LIKE Filed Sept. 13, 1954 ZgNVENTOR,

BY 1 s/ 5 a HTTOR/V Y.

United States PatentO HAND WASHING TOOL FOR DISHES, MIRRORS AND THE LIKE Robert M. Rigney, Long Beach, Calif. Application September 13, 1954, Serial No. 455,723 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-136) This invention relates to hand washing tools for dishes, mirrors and the like, and it has among its salient objects:

To provide a combination hand grip and container for washing fluid, detergent and the like, and the body of which has provision for having detachably mounted thereon a mophead of soft flexible material, as sponge rubber or other suitable material, with means for supplying the washing fluid or detergent to said mophead as needed with a minimum of effort;

To provide in such a washing tool a mophead with means for quickly and easily attaching it to and removing it from the tool proper, said mophead having an attaching member or diaphragm having a slit-like orifice therein for the flow of the washing fluid therethrough to the mophead, as desired, and which orifice automatically closes as pressure in the container is released;

T provide in a washing tool of the character referred to a rubber diaphragm-like backing to which the mophead is attached and which is designed to be stretched over a disc-like head portion on the neck attached to the container and through which the washing fluid flows on its way to the mophead, said diaphragm member having a central dish-like portion, in the center of which the orifice slit is made, whereby said central dish-like portion provides extra fullness of material and permits said orifice to always remain closed except when extended or opened by pressure of the washing fluid from the container. By providing a central dish-like portion in the diaphragm, the diaphragm can be stretched over the disc-like head without stretching the central portion and opening the orifice;

To provide as a part of said washing tool a container for the washing fluid which serves as the handle for handling and using the tool, and which is also made of flexible p1as tic material so that it is possible by simply pressing on the side thereof to force the washing fluid out through the orifice and into the mophead, as said mopead is held in a down position. As pressure is released on said body, it expands to normal condition, drawing air into it to take the place of the detergent discharged into the mophead by pressing said container. The detergent can only flow to the mophead as said container is compressed in the hand of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a washing tool, an attaching diaphragm member, as shown, so that it can be replaced when worn or when another type of hophead is desired for any reason.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of one practical embodiment thereof, taken with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washing tool embodying my invention, with parts shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rubber diaphragm with the mophead proper removed, and as it would be seen on line 22 on Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the parts of the neck 2,820,234 Patented Jan. 21, 1958 ice plastic material so that its sidecan be compressed as-it is held in the hand of the user. I

A neck 4 is shown having on its lower end a ring or flange-like portion 4 to be fitted over the reduced end of said neck, designated 4" and which can be flared after the ring member 4 is placed thereon, as seen in Fig. l, and which serves for securing the neck to the container, as indicated in Fig. l.

The upper end of said neck receives a disc-like head 5, having a central, slightly tilted bowl portion 6, adapted to fit over the upper end of said neck and to have the end 6 rolled or flared so as to secure said head in place, as seen in Fig. I. Said disc-like head 5 has formed therein an annular offset, as 5, leaving an outer rim 5" to receive the rubber diaphragm 7, clearly indicated .incross section effective method of detachably securing the diaphragm on the head, as indicated. Said diaphragm also is provided with a relatively thin central portion shown as a dish-like portion 7' which furnishes extra fullness of material in the center and through which the slit or orifice is made, as indicated, Fig. 2.

This extra fullness of material in the center of the diaphragm provides slack or take-up and makes it possible to stretch the diaphragm over the disc-like head 5 without distending or opening the orifice, thus insuring that said orifice will always remain closed except when fluid is being forced therethrough to the mophead. The mophead is designated 9 and is formed of sponge rubber, or other suitable material and it is secured to the diaphragm in any desirable manner, as by bonding or cementing, as may be desired.

The use and operation of the invention can be briefly described as follows:

Assuming that the container is filled with the desired detergent or washing fluid, the tool is turned down and the body is compressed slightly in the hand of the user, whereupon the fluid is forced out through the orifice 8 and to the mophead which absorbs it and holds it in readiness for use. The pressure is released as the tool is raised to upright or usable position, the orifice has automatically closed, and a small amount of air has rushed into the container to take the place of the detergent which has passed into the mophead and has been absorbed thereby.

The tool is used by rubbing the mophead over the surface to be cleaned just as a washrag is used after it has been soaped or provided with washing detergent, but with a great deal more ease, and with greater efliciency, for the mophead is more compact and firm than a loose washrag in the hand.

When it is desired to change the mophead, it is only necessary to stretch the diaphragm sufficiently to remove it from the edge of the head 5, and another can be put in its place.

I know that changes in the details of construction and arrangement can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not therefore limit the invention to these details, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising: a disc-shaped head adapted to be removably secured to the neck of a flexible container for fluid, said head having an opening therethrough for communication with the interior of said container; a flat, elastic diaphragm adapted to be stretched taut over said disoshaped head and to be maintained thereon undertension, said diaphragm havinga normally slack tension-absorbing center portion with a slit cut, normally closed orifice therein through which fluid may be forced from said container; and a 'mopheadsecured to the outer surface of said diaphragm to receive fluid which has passed through said orifice.

2. In a member for a washing tool; aflat elastic diaphragm having an annular inwardly opening groove, said diaphragm being adapted to be stretched taut over a discshaped head to maintain sealing engagement with said head and having a slack, tension absorbing central area with a slit cut, normally closed orifice therein.to permit the forcing of fluid therethrough.

3. A hand tool for washing dishes and the like incl-uding a container for fluid of flexible material forming a combination container and handle; a-n attac hmentmember connected to said container and terminating in a discshaped head, said member having an opening therethrou gh communicating with the interior ofsaid containerta fiat, elastic diaphragm having an annular inwardly opening groove, said diaphragm being adapted to be stretched-taut over said disc-shaped head on which said diaphragm is maintained taut andhavin-g a slack, tcnsion-absorbing central area with a slit cut, normally closed orifice therethrough in communication with said opening, said diaphragm being adapted to be stretched tautover saiddiscshaped head for attachment thereto without opening of corifice; and a mophead of somewhat yielding material secured to the outer surface of said diaphragm and adapted to receive fluid from said container through said orifice, said container being compressible to force its contents through said orifice to said mophead, said orifice automatically closing when pressure of fluid thereon is released.

4. in amember f orawashingtool: an elastic diaphragm adapted to be stretched taut over a disc-shaped head and maintained thereon in said taut condition, said diaphragm having a slack central portion when said diaphragm is in a a t nai iqaoa a sih asl, fiaidicant a p i a having a normally closed slit therein through which fluid may be be forced.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

